Agricultural Machine Shaping Member Positioning via Electric Load Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural machines face challenges in optimizing operating conditions, particularly in managing working spaces and material dispensation, leading to inefficiencies and potential overloads or congestion during material application processes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining and responding to electric loads supplied to the electric drive of agricultural machines to adjust the working space conditions, using a control unit to position shaping members and manage electric loads, thereby optimizing the dispensation of materials such as granular or liquid substances, and adjusting the operational parameters of machines like spreaders, sprayers, and mowers to prevent overloads and congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the working space is reduced to prevent overloads and congestion, then the reliability of material dispensation is improved, but the productivity decreases due to smaller working area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the shaping member movable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the position of the shaping member based on real-time electric load feedback from the electric drive, allowing the working space to be continuously optimized between too wide (congestion) and too narrow (reduced productivity). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the working space to current operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using the electric load signal from the electric drive as input to the control unit. The control unit processes this feedback and automatically adjusts the shaping member position accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables the machine to self-regulate the working space to prevent overloads while maintaining optimal productivity, resolving the reliability-productivity contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are installed to monitor working space conditions, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing the electric load signal that already exists in the system as a natural indicator of working space conditions. Instead of adding external sensors to measure working space directly, the system uses the electric drive's own load signal, which automatically reflects the working space state. This eliminates the need for additional measurement devices while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric load signal serves multiple functions: it indicates both the power consumption of the electric drive and the working space conditions (congestion or overload). By making this signal multi-functional, the patent avoids adding dedicated sensors for working space monitoring, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for operating an agricultural machine having a working device, an electric drive configured to drive the working device, a control unit, and a shaping member configured to shape a working space assigned to the working device by relative movement between the working device and the shaping member, the method comprising driving the working device by the electric drive, forming a first working space, comprising positioning the shaping member in a first position relative to the working device, determining, by the control unit, a first electric load supplied to the electric drive when the first working space is formed, forming a second working space, comprising positioning the shaping member in a second position relative to the working device, and determining, by the control unit, a second electric load supplied to the electric drive when the second working space is formed, the second electric load being different from the first electric load. Further, an agricultural machine is provided. (Fig. 1)